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Jallikattu Debate

Jallikattu is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day.

Jallikattu is derived from the words ‘calli’ (coins) and ‘kattu’ (tie), which means a bundle of coins is tied to the bull’s horns. In older times, the tamer sought to remove this bundle from the animal’s head to win gold or silver.

The southern parts of Tamil Nadu witness bull-taming the most, with Alanganallur near Madurai hosting the largest and most famous of these events.

Factors against the ban

Jallikattu is an ancient sport which has continued since colonial times. So it is an ancient tradition which should be preserved and not banned.

In Jallikattu, the objective is to obtain the ‘Jallikattu’ a pouch which contains the reward coins called ‘Jalli’ tied to the horns of the bulls. While the players are not allowed to carry weapons of any kind or wear protective gears, the bulls on the other hand will not have nose rings or ropes.

Plus, they’re equipped with a pair of sharp horns which can gore a human within seconds. So it’s actually the bull which has the upper hand in this match.

Jallikattu is what’s keeping the native breed of cows from going extinct, according to some local people which is a huge problem for western cattle industry.

Arguments favouring the ban

During Jallikattu, bulls are purposefully scared and petrified and then made to run across the crowd, destroying anything that would come in their way. Various cruel means are adopted to scare and anger the bull like pinching, nailing, stabbing with sticks that have nails at the edges, twisting their tails and even forcefully making them drink alcohol and other drugs. The ropes around their nose are painfully yanked and then they are dragged into the crowd of people who further anger the bull.

According to the documents by PETA, these bulls also break their bones in order to escape from the crowd continuously trying to toture them. Casualty and death of humans are also alarmingly high during this game.

What started as a simple act of bravado has become an act of cruelty towards animals.

The bulls are kept in the waiting area for hours, subjecting it to the scorching sun. The bulls used in the sport are also denied food and water.

Due to this sport, innumerable human lives, both of the participants and the audience, have also been lost, as the bulls try to flee from the pain.

View of SC

Supreme court in 2014 banned the sport jallikattu as it violates provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA) and militates the constitutional duty of treating animals with compassion, Article 51A (g).

It also reiterated the expansive reading it had given in the past, to Article 21 (Right to Life), which prohibits any disturbance to the environment, including animals, considered essential for human life.

What can government do?

The Government must find alternate methods to continue it without hurting the animal or people. Following are some of the alternatives:

Follow the famous Spanish bullfighting example where measures taken to avoid lethal damage

Put effective protection (barricades, speaker announcements, clear demarcation) so that people are not hurt

International experience

The tradition of bullfighting in Spain is cited to legitimise the conduct of Jallikattu and present it as a viable tourist attraction.

It is significant that the Spanish state of Catalonia banned the sport in 2012 after a prolonged ‘culture versus rights’ debate.

In 2002, Germany took animal rights to a new level by giving animals constitutional protection.

Way ahead

Those who want the sport to be legalised have called for an amendment to the PCA Act and measures to revoke the 2011 notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) which barred the use of bulls as performing animals.

Trying to allow an event that legitimises cruelty to animals would be a direct insult to the carefully reasoned writ of the Supreme Court, a complete negation of the PCA Act and its objectives, and would take the country back by a few steps in the crucial area of Right to Life.

hmm life is so precious whether it is of man or animal but i believe that by just prohibiting the sports will not only an attack on tamil culture but also will have some lethargic effects as JALLIKATTU is agrtt work for tourist attraction…
and why to stop the game or any groups culture whwn the SC have many alternatives
they can conduct the sport with peace by just having an arrangement and ascquiring safety issues..

Hi, this is not only for culture & identity you need to look more. I think it explains more.

“Guys, I have had doubts related to how Jallikattu can help with preservation of native breeds and why can’t breeders raise these even without events like Jallikattu. I was curious and enquired many people who were supporting Jallikattu. The answers that I got like it helps with financing the bull were not convincing. The only convincing answer in favor of Jallikattu was that it must be held for cultural reasons which most of the people parroted. But none of them were able to point me out to the actual reasons why this was beneficial. The videos that I was pointed out to described in great detail the advantages of A2 milk and how the preservation of native breeds which have the gene for producing A2 milk is important but none of them addressed the important question – How does Jallikattu help in their preservation and what is in it for native breeders. After seeing Senapathy’s replies in an interview and after talking to Raja Manickam, I have finally managed to convince myself that Jallikattu is not just important from a cultural point of view but is more important from a farmer’s point of view as it helps in preservation of native breeds. Here is my summary of how it helps. It is a long read but it will help the majority of those youngsters who are seeking such answers themselves and would enable them to be in a better position to defend the practice.

A little bit of background is necessary before understanding this.

There are two types of beta-casein protein which are the dominant casein proteins in cow’s milk: A1 and A2 protein. Initially all cows produced milk rich in A2 protein. But 5000 years back when migration started happening to Europe, a genetic mutation caused cattle taken to Europe to produce milk where both A1 and A2 protein were present in approximately equal amounts or where A1 protein dominated. Most of the breeds in Europe, US and Australia produce milk rich in A1 protein while native breeds in Asia and Africa produce milk rich in A2 protein. But after effects of colonization and artificial insemination caused these differences to disappear and interbreeding of cattle resulted in cows’ milk in Asia and Africa to also have both proteins. But pure breeds (ones with A2 milk) still do exist in Asia and Africa.

Scientific research has established the differences in the way the human digestive system (and digestive enzymes) processes these two proteins. The digestive enzymes react to these proteins very differently. Based on these differences, many research articles have arrived at the conclusion (not established beyond reasonable doubt) that A1 milk protein could be the cause for various chronic diseases like type-1 diabetes and so on. There exists research to the contrary as well i.e. there is no correlation between A1 protein and chronic diseases. But the majoritarian view at the moment is that A2 milk is more beneficial than A1 milk. Here is a link to one such research paper ().

There is one more important point to be made here. When we interbreed a bull and a cow (and if one or both of them were an offspring of a cow that produced milk rich in A1 protein) then the new offspring will also have this trait. It has been scientifically proven that the gene which causes cows to produce milk rich in A1 protein is a dominant gene and hence all offsprings will also have this trait.

In India there are 37 native breeds (there were 150 a century ago) and of these 36 have the A2 protein gene in them. The only breed Malvi (common in Maharashtra) has the gene for A1 protein. But this bull is mostly used for ploughing and cows bred with this bull are average milk producers and hence not a cause for major concern. That essentially means that all the 6 native breeds found in Tamilnadu have the A2 protein gene in them which makes it all the more important for us to preserve them.

Now before we address why Jallikattu helps in preserving native breed, let us understand what will happen if all these native breeds become extinct. We will then have to interbreed and rely heavily on artificial insemination. I have already mentioned the problems with inter breeding above. Artificial insemination is an expensive process and we rely on semen imported from countries like US, Australia, Denmark and New Zealand from Jersey bulls and other such breed known to have A1 protein as the dominant gene. This essentially means that our generation and future generation will then have to live with milk rich in A1 protein and also the associated problems like type1 – diabetes, autism and so on. The other disadvantage with artificial insemination is that the offspring will not be healthy as its genetic pool lacks the genes that are required for it to adapt to the climate and local changes which a native breed has in a higher proportion.

Now this brings into picture an MNC, A2 Milk Company with presence in US, Australia and New Zealand. This company holds patents for trivial things like genetically testing whether a cow has an A1 gene or A2 gene. But what is disturbing is the patent that they hold for artificial insemination of A2 gene bull’s semen. They hold the patent for this method which causes A2 gene to become the dominant gene as opposed to A1 which happens naturally. It suppresses the dominant tendency of A1 gene. Now if all native breeds in India were destroyed then we may have to either make do with A1 milk or we may have to pay a hefty royalty to A2 Milk company for using its patented technique to produce cows rich in A2 gene. Now this is what is bothering most of these cattle breeders in TamilNadu. The question that is being raised is that when our breeds are perfectly capable of producing A2 milk, why must be force ourselves to be a slave to some other MNC company holding a patent for this. They also accuse this MNC of funding PETA which is unsubstantiated. But this organisation has been donating generously to PETA in US, Australia and New Zealand which is suspicious but doesn’t establish that they are behind the protest in India.

In TamilNadu, breeders rear bulls with the intention of showcasing them in Jallikattu. Most of the farmers can’t afford to raise these bulls and are hence reliant on these breeders or on the common temple bull which is reared by the entire village rather than a single breeder. The bulls that fare well in the Jallikattu arena are in constant demand for servicing the cows. So we can think of Jallikattu as a marketplace for these bulls. Now this still doesn’t answer as to why Jallikattu alone can help in this and why can’t breeders breed these native bulls irrespective of whether Jallikattu happens or not.

To understand that we will have to understand the chronology of events that lead to Jallikattu and events that happen thereafter. Jallikattu is held during Pongal time (i.e. mid January), the strong bulls are identified and mated with cows. After this the farming season starts. After harvesting is done, this cycle starts again where the breeders showcase their bulls in Jallikattu events. People with a keen eye for this then make note of the strongest bulls and then seek them out later in what is known as a sandhai (marketplace) in Tamil

Now how does Jallikattu help in the process? The bulls used for mating need to be virile. During the mating season (which is typically after Pongal), these bulls need to be at the top of their game i.e. they must be secreting all the necessary male hormones, experience adrenaline rush and also a fast beating heart. This is where Jallikattu comes in picture. The time when the bull is released from the Vaadi Vaasal (the small narrow gate from which the bulls are released) and till the time it manages to reach the other end (if it is not subdued) causes it to experience a great adrenaline rush which then boosts it’s testosterone levels and also keeps its heart beating at a rate faster than normal levels. This increases their virility and this is one of the most fundamental of all necessities for selective breeding. Can this be done without an activity like Jallikattu? Possibly but then the number of matings a bull can accomplish decreases significantly. Jallikattu helps in increasing this which is of utmost importance to a farmer’s wellbeing. Also because artificial insemination is not adapted for native breeds, the banning of an event like Jallikattu will lead to these native breeds getting destroyed which would then force our hands to rely on artificial insemination the very process which the farmers shunned to begin with.

In places where events like Jallikattu are not held, the male calves (which are essentially useless unless there is demand for tasks like ploughing) are slaughtered. but in places where Jallikattu is held, these calves are held on to for the purpose of showcasing them and establishing their superiority.

Now that convinces me of the necessity for an event like Jalikattu. Now I can truly empathise with these farmers and their struggle to retain this cultural event.”

I think you have misunderstood the way jallikattu is being played. There is no torture given to the animal . Please dont get misled by false information’s. It is only played to get the best bull for breeding . Losing bulls are never sent to slaughter house they are sent for farming . If you have time please watch takkaru takkaru video from youtube sung by hip hop tamilan. That will give you a better understanding. Thank you.

The reason why many of us oppose the total ban on Jallikattu is we people almost abandoned agriculture. we are not close with bulls, cow, etc. We see it as humanity rather than its capability. We say ‘I love pets & grow a dog at home’. But we drift away street dog without feeding them or even kill them. Instead of correcting the spells we totally delete the story itself. We people talk about pollution, environment, future generation, and so on. We act against the talk. We all think everything for others only not for me.

lets ban bogi festival(litting wood at mornings on first day of sankranthi) bcuz its adding too much particles,green house gases. lets ban hindu marriages its too expensive and time consuming. i dont suggest cruelty to animals but its abrupt ban may cause religious and regional turmoil.they should have given guidelines regarding how to conduct and what should avoid. it has potential of attracting tourism too.

Hindu marriage traditions actually gathers or make contact with almost all society groups to complete the marriage. It indirectly gives employment to almost all sector. Hence its time consuming & costly.

here, sc struck down the gov decision by putting ban on jallikattu by saying that it is cruelty against the animals as petition filed by the animal welfare board.as CM said people had already made all arrangements for that and it would be against the sentiments of the people by not allowing it

I too support with SC’s stay on jallikattu, ill treating animals in the name of culture is not an appreciable thing. In the same way respecting and protecting culture and tradition is also important, so it shouldn’t be banned, but care should be taken that animals not to be harmed in anyways possible, under police surveillance will be fine. this is purely my opinion.

Your back to basics are very much help for me as a beginner to grasp basic and essential knowledge. Please make it to continue for forever and increase their quality and quantity if it is possible for you to.

Jallikattu, the popular bull “taming” sport conducted every year during the “Pongal season” in Tamil Nadu, is a violent and irrational risk-taking endeavour, requiring the taming of a raging bull at the risk of even fatal injury and even death in certain cases. Jallikattu might be a popular tradition having evolved from a single man-bull combat in the past to the random spectacle that it is today, but that it is both irrational and against animal rights is beyond question.
It is unfortunate, that center on the urge of Tamilnadu state government has allowed the conduct of jallikatu though with the permission of local authorities siting traditional belief systems and customs.
It would have been appropriate for the Tamil Nadu government to absorb this reasoning given by supreme court that is considering these customary laws put the well-being of participants and animals at disproportionate risk and explain it to rural youth who have complained about the loss of their traditional “sport”.
The festive atmosphere during Pongal and the traditions of community bonding and competition can still be easily retained without the irrational practice of jallikattu.

Lifting the ban from jallikattu is indeed a good step respecting the old traditional sport and sentiments attached with it.
With this, ill-practices like applying chilly powder, poking bulls with sharp weapons will reduce. Now more safety will be ensured both for the animals and tamers.
But then,yeah, one community gets happy with this ban being lifted and other surely getting unhappy.
Jallikattu is traditional, old ritual, attached with sentiments sport. And beef is banned but beef’s export has increased rapidly.
No doubt, BJP has placed itself in the good books of tamilians but has big time disappointed one section of the society ..!

Ya that’s the main issue. In the name of ‘tradition’ ‘custom’ ‘culture’ atrocities are done against animals. Jallikattu is culturally twined with the ppl, but recent malpractices raise the concerns. But jallikattu is not the only custom.. Many more.. Like yulin of china, gadhimai of Nepal (50 lac animals slaughtered hence came the ban on gadhimai)
My point is, if a policy to prevent animal slaughter is followed then it should be consistent. And not just keeping upcoming elections in mind or any particular section.

When we talk of jallikattu, I accept bulls are not killed ( no large scale slaughtering of bulls have come forward) but does raise many questions on animal welfare. Policies laws and regulations shoud be uniform and consistent.

To allow Jallikattu in T.N was good decision by central government , its related to ancient tradition !
it encourages breeding of bulls,Banning of sport means that there will be no incentive to raise the bull , because of these kind of festivals they maintain healthy diet of bulls so that animal can perform good in sports , is it animal cruelty?? definitely not ! if these festivals will be banned then only poor farmers (those who cant effort tractor)will raise bulls and in oldage they will sell bulls to slaughter houses ! i dont know where those people run when millions of goats are being killed in the name of tradition or every day many chickens are killed for food and extreme level of cruelty is performed while extracting eggs by playing with their process of natural reproductive system !
there should be enforcement of common guidelines, one community will be exempted then another will demand for it , it create tensions between communities !

I usually like your comments but I don’t think bringing in chicken was a good idea, felt like you are preaching vegetarianism.
Choice of food and killing plants or animals is a completely different debate.

its natural to bring chicken in the discussion of “animal cruelty” by any vegetarian ! still i apologize if you felt bad !
and now topic has already ended by supreme court by keeping ban on jallikatu ! ….. but i wont be surprise if center comes up with ordinance ! they should be !

Killing animals or plants for consumption is a NECESSITY, you have to kill a Living Being to survive. The old tradition that you are defending is something which is being done just “for fun” sakes. There’s a huge difference between the two. One is for survival, the other one just for amusement.

yes i agree , noone is demanding BAN on chicken because its a need specially in north east ! i am not Tamilian but i can easily see jallikatu is not only for fun but its also an incentive to raise bulls ! thatswhy i support it! otherwise just like “The great Indian Bustard ” we will have to say goodbye to bulls in next 50-60 years !

It’s prevention of cruelty act,1960. Prevention of corruption act is of 1988 and there’s no corruption angle here .
U see falling standards of journalism . Both are abbreviated as PCA, illiterate journalist expanding it as prevention of corruption act.
All hail The Hindu .